Karkadann
Overview
Karkadann are the result of a rhinoceros being imbued with aether, which concentrates in its horn and turns it into a golden, spiraling spike. Unlike many creatures imbued with aether, a karkadann is a celestial being that takes on a protective role in the savanna it calls home. Much like a unicorn’s forest grove, a karkadann’s savanna is blessed by overwhelming bounty: mighty baobab and acacia trees grow strong, and white-blossomed abal shrubs and wild melons coat the grass in flashes of color. Water in the area is always clean, and any beasts who settle in the region are calmed by the karkadann’s presence. A karkadann who has wandered into the arid desert and made that its lair can even turn the shifting sands into a lush oasis, given time. If a fiendish or malicious entity enters a karkadann’s territory, the karkadann will immediately bring its ferocity to bear against the threat, using its magical power to ward off curses and smite evil.Two factors limit the potential of a karkadann to revolutionize life in Ithara: their furious temperament against all who aren’t beasts, and the rarity of their existence. The only sapient creatures a karkadann has been known to accept into its territory are beastfolk, with shockingly few exceptions. All others are chased out immediately, denied the bounty the karkadann creates. What’s more, it takes exceptionally high concentrations of aether for a rhinoceros to transform, and their horns are so filled with aetheric potential that they are a tempting target for poachers.
It is no surprise that the karkadann has become a symbol of determination and endurance for the beastfolk. The rare paladin who can summon a karkadann steed is a magnificent figure indeed, inspiring awe in the eyes of their fellows and terror in their foes.
Contents
Details
Origin/Ancestry
Transformed rhinoceros
Lifespan
300 years
Average Height
7 feet
Average Length
12 feet
Geographic Distribution
